CHILDREN’S workers in Swindon have been praised for their work on adoption in 2009.

The council service was rated as outstanding by education watchdog Ofsted.

Nine children were adopted in Swindon during 2009 but nearly double that number of parents were approved for adoption in the town during that period.

The council’s family placement team manager Graham Senior said: “When you get it right for a child and you know he or she will be provided with security and love it is very rewarding.

“We work hard to support parents to look after their own children but if there are risks to the child, adoption offers the best alternative.

“It is lovely to have the service recognised by independent inspectors but one never wants to be complacent. There is always scope for improvement.”

Ofsted’s report praised information and guidance made available to the public on adoption, the experience of the team, good record keeping, ongoing training of staff and prospective adopters and general support to the public.

The Ofsted report said: “The adoption and permanence team of Swindon Council ensure that children are provided with good adoption placements.

“This is achieved by the good practice of a well qualified and managed staff team, who are well trained and are supported by sound policies and procedures.”

Coun Garry Perkins, cabinet member for Children Services, said: “This is tremendous news for the council.

“The adoption team has worked extremely hard in the past year to ensure prospective adopters, and children and young people being adopted, are receiving a quality service.

“This rating is yet another example of how this council is turning Children Services around to ensure excellent standards are achieved, putting us ahead of other local authorities in this field.”

Mr Senior said the team is keen to hear from a wide mixture of people interested in adoption.

He said: “It might look like we have more people wanting to adopt than we need but we are interested in finding the right placement for a child. Our job is to make the best match we can.”

For more information telephone 01793 465700.